The discussion:

To the cloud – With much anticipation, Martin and Sallie welcome our new semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Jason Schmidt, who will be joining WELSTech on an alternating basis for our end-of-month classroom technology focused podcasts. Gail Potratz will be back next month! Jason adds his insight to today’s cloud-based computing discussion of Google Chromebooks and 1-to-1 teaching initiatives.

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:09:20) Episode 208 – Using technology to assist with ministry to shut-ins is the discussion topic on next week’s podcast. We’ll also talk with folks from Nebraska Lutheran High School about their use of SmoothWall, a new ShopWELS product. (Release date – 11/02/11)

The featured artist:

(1:10:29) This week we close with the music of Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries – Dive Into God’s Word from their CD titled ”Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries”

The discussion:

Internet phones – Using Voice over Internet Protocol (or VoIP) to make long distance calls at an affordable or sometimes free rate is the topic of the day. Martin and Sallie attempt to sort out the various options and share pros and cons of each solution.

The interview:

(20:05) The next level – Mark Robinson from DVI Consulting and principal contact for the ShopWELS program talks with Martin and Sallie about the cost and productivity benefits of IP telephony systems. Get a glimpse of the future as Mark describes WELS partner Digium and their reliable and effective means of supporting phone system needs for small to medium churches and schools.

The discussion:

Connection – Martin and Sallie discuss the latest WELSTech book selection, Chapter 1 of The Church of Facebook. The author, Jesse Rice, lays the foundation for the phenomenon of Facebook, pointing out the most basic of human needs … the need for “home”.

The discussion:

Finding a world of information – Searching the information super highway is a must-have skill for everyone these days and certainly a skill that comes in handy in the ministry setting. Martin and Sallie share search tips from the biggies – Bing and Google – as well as other tools that prove useful when doing internet research.